Rephonic
Artwork for Professor of Rock

Professor of Rock

Gamut Podcast Network
Rock Music
The Beatles
Van Halen
Led Zeppelin
Music Industry
Music History
1970s Music
Songwriting
Heart
Electric Light Orchestra
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Stuttering
Bob Seger
Kiss
Alice Cooper
Me and You and a Dog Named Boo
Bruce Springsteen
MTV
St. Elmo's Fire (man In Motion)
Radiohead

The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-th... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1652Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Professor of Rock

Latest Episodes

Alright, it’s been a long while since we covered one of these. Today, we’re coming back to a channel favorite: Female Hidden Gems! For this countdown, we’re highlighting some incredible songs sung by amazing female artists that have just gotten lost ... more

Coming up… It’s our final TIME IN BOTTLE COUNTDOWN for now. I’ve really enjoyed doing this series of songs that take us right back to the moment these song were on radio Today we are traveling back to a big year in the 70s with so many classic songs ... more

Let's run it back!

The 80s classic hit In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins has arguably the most famous urban legend behind it in rock history. Told and retold thousands of times. Did Phil Collins of Genesis really witness a potential murder and the... more

I love the Mamas and the Papas. They had such a unique style with hits like California Dreamin' and Monday Monday, but today I have a really strange tale. It’s one that most people haven’t heard. How a lead pipe falling at a construction site alleged... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Peter Frampton
Legendary guitarist and singer known for Frampton Comes Alive!
Episode: FROM THE VAULT: Peter Frampton Turned Procrastination into a Historic Success
Felix Cavaliere
Lead singer and co-writer of Groovin on the Rascals
The Rascals (Young Rascals)
Episode: The Story of The Rascals’ “Groovin’” and the Band’s Incredible Hit Streak
Benny Mardones
Singer of Into the Night
Musician
Episode: 1980’s Most Misunderstood Songs
Greg Phillinganes
Musician, played with Michael Jackson; musical director on Bad/Dangerous tours
Independent musician / Michael Jackson collaborator
Episode: The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators
Paul McCartney
Member of The Beatles; collaborated with MJ on a duet
The Beatles / Michael Jackson collaboration
Episode: The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators
Steve Lukather
Guitarist, Toto; worked on Thriller and other MJ projects
Toto
Episode: The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators
David Pak
Member of Ambrosia; helped connect Leonard Bernstein with MJ
Ambrosia
Episode: The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor and composer; LA Phil performance with MJ in 1980s
LA Philharmonic
Episode: The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators
Howard Jones
Musician known for several 1980s synth-pop hits
Solo artist / 1980s music scene
Episode: DATED Countdown: “Voices Carry,” Axel F, Madonna Controversy & Animotion’s Double Hit Story

Host

Adam Reader
Host of Professor of Rock; music historian with a focus on deep-dive stories and interviews with legends

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 235 ratings
  • Rocks!

    Adam’s eloquent presentation combined with never-ending interesting

    subjects makes for one of my favorite podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paulus787
    United States9 days ago
  • New favorite

    I really like this no nonsense looks at these topics. I’m currently listening to the one about critics and agree 100%

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lindyc5
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love it!

    Thank you for all the info about my favorite songs & favorite musicians… and the random ones too. Keep it up - I’ll keep listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarolynC1975
    United States2 months ago
  • Prof gets A+

    How do you get all your information? It’s amazing I’ve enjoyed the prof of rock for a while on YouTube now I get to enjoy him loud and proud in the car. 3 chords and the truth. If it’s to loud your to old !

    Here’s a show idea best 1st dance songs. Those songs that take you back to 7th, 8th grade all the way to your senior prom in the 80s. Ie. When in roam or I just died in your arms tonight. I think it would make a great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Um all hype
    United States2 months ago
  • Movie Soundtrack

    My favorite movie soundtrack is from Valley Girl. If you do a second edition, include that one

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ranger!!!
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A great mix of archival anecdotes and modern reflections on classic tracks.
Deep-dish music history with engaging storytelling and interviews.
A reliable source for behind-the-scenes stories and artist lore.
Consistently informative, with a nostalgic yet current take.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#65
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#132
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#217
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#15
Singapore/Music
Apple Podcasts
#28
Norway/Music
Apple Podcasts
#123
Israel/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Weird Al Yankovic Reveals the Stories Behind His Greatest Parodies, From Michael Jackson to Nirvana
Q: Tell me about I Want a New Duck and the research behind it.
Al describes going to the public library for non-internet research on ducks, studying books and articles for a week before writing the song, illustrating his dedication to authenticity even in parody ideas.
Weird Al Yankovic Reveals the Stories Behind His Greatest Parodies, From Michael Jackson to Nirvana
Q: Tell me about the Jack and Diane parody and why it didn't pan out.
Al explains that John Cougar Mellencamp rejected the parody because it overlapped with a Jack and Diane movie in development, so he pivoted to other approaches and eventually created an original blues-number parody instead of a direct take, which later tied into his Simpsons appearance.
How Ace Frehley Outsold Kiss With His Solo Record and Proved Everyone Wrong
Q: Tell me about the moment you decided to do a solo album and what fired you up to prove them wrong.
Ace describes being challenged by Kiss's leadership and feeling inspired to prove he could create a strong solo record on his own, which led to the successful 1978 release and a broader impact on his career.
FROM THE VAULT: Perry Farrell on the Story Behind Jane’s Addiction’s Jane Says – An Alternative Rock Classic
Q: Tell us about Jane Says.
The track is tied to Jane Bainter and Farrell's fascination with the real Jane, blending personal storytelling with the intense energy of the LA scene; the song became a defining moment for Jane's Addiction and showcased Farrell's lyricism and the band's edge.
Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice”: Lou Gramm and Mick Jones on the Story Behind the Classic Hit
Q: Why did you decide to include Cold as Ice on the debut album despite concerns it might be too pop?
Jones and the band ultimately trusted the track and felt it showcased Foreigner's versatility, proving that they could blend pop sensibilities with rock edge, which helped it become a defining song for the group.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Professor of Rock

What is Professor of Rock about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive history show that explores the stories, context, and people behind classic rock and pop hits. Episodes mix behind-the-scenes production details, artist anecdotes, and cultural moments to reveal how enduring songs were crafted, released, and received. Listeners can expect expansive interviews, archival storytelling, and thoughtful analyses of iconic tracks and the eras that shaped them. A notable strength is the host's ability to connect minute studio details to bigger cultural narratives, making nostalgia feel current and informative.

Where can I find podcast stats for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Professor of Rock. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Professor of Rock and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Professor of Rock get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Professor of Rock, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Professor of Rock, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Professor of Rock have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Professor of Rock has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Professor of Rock are there?

Professor of Rock launched a year ago and published 1652 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Professor of Rock?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Professor of Rock from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Professor of Rock?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Professor of Rock. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Professor of Rock?

Recent guests on Professor of Rock include:

1. Peter Frampton
2. Felix Cavaliere
3. Benny Mardones
4. Greg Phillinganes
5. Paul McCartney
6. Steve Lukather
7. David Pak
8. Leonard Bernstein

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days